Filing device



F. J. KLINE FILING DEVICE Nov. 2.1, 1933.

Filed Feb. 2, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l 23W M MLM ATTORNEYS NOV. 2l, F J. KLINE FILING DEVICE Filed Feb. 2, 1932 2 sheets-sheet 2 BYl @www1/M ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 2l,V 1933 UNITED STATES FILING DEVICE Fred J. Kline, Bayville, N. -Y., assignor toAcco Products, Inc., Long Island City, N. Y., a. corporation of New York Application February 2, 1932. Serial No..5901,368

6 Claims. (Cl. 129-16) This invention relates to filing devices and more particularly to ,convenient and inexpensive equipmentforling drawings and similar sheets.

Drawings such as those used by architects,

builders .and engineers, are commonly rolled and disposed in a corner of the room where they are used;l There theyv accumulate dust and dirt and arefrequently tornor disfigured. Sometimes the drawings are stored flatin drawers, but it is practically impossible to index them satisfactorily,

and Vthey are not readily accessible. The difficulties involved in filing drawings are particularly marked in-respect to the relatively fragile tracingswhich are employed to permit duplication of 5 the drawings in the form of blueprints Itis the object of the present invention to provide a simple and effective filing device in which drawings and similar sheets and particularly fragile tracings are suspended and from which 2 they can be removed quickly and conveniently.

Other-.objects andadvantages of the invention Willbe apparent as it is better understood by refference to the following specication and accompanying drawings, in which Fig. -1 is a view in perspective of a device embodying the invention, showing the sheets suspended thereon; e

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are details in section, plan and in elevation respectively ofthe means for releasalbly fsecuring the `sheets to the hanger;

Figs. 5 and Glarefdetailsin section and plan respectively -ofa modified form ofthe sheet fastening means; Y A

3 Figsz-'Z and 8- are details in section and'plan respectively of another form ofthe sheet fastening meansr Y Y Figs-9 andv 10-are vertical and vplan sections of another formof the sheet fastening means;

l 4 Figs, 11 and 12 are a section and plan respectively` of another' form of the sheet fastening Figs.V 13, Maud; Vare vertical sections and a perspective view illustrating another formA ofthe 5.sheet fastening means;V f

Figs. .16, 17and l8are perspective and vertical .sections of another form of the sheet'fastening. means: y

Fig. 19 is a sectional view illustrating the opera- 50`,tion of the device illustrated in Figs. 16 to 18,

. inclusive; Y f

Y Figsi20' and 21fare perspective views illustrating another .form ofthe sheetA fastening means;

, Fig. 22is a section illustrating the. operation of 55,1116 device as illustratedin Figs. 20 and 21;V and material such as metal which may be detachably vsecure a supplemental arm 10 by welding, rivetf Fig. 23 is a fragmentary view in perspectiveof a sheet with a binder strip attached thereto. i,

`Incarryingout the invention, I may employ any suitablehanger, but prefer a stripof suitable VThe invention may be used, for example, in connection with cabinets and equipment such as is illustrated in my Patent No. 1,867,153, dated July 12, 1932. The invention is not limited to the particular details of equipment illustrated inthat patent, as numerous variations of the supporting means for the hanger can be employed.

As an example of the invention, however, I may use a suitable bracket, preferably a channel member 5 having openings in the flanges thereof to receive a pin 6. The pin passes through a hinge member 7 at the end of` a suitable support in the forinof a projecting arm 8. This arm may be formedfrom a strip of metal, `and is stiffened preferably by beads 9 stamped from the body thereof. lTo one of the beads 9 I may ing or otherwise, thus providing a ledge to cooperate with the turned edge 11 of a hanger 12. The hanger may be formed of any suitable material', preferably sheet metal, so as to slidably engage the supplemental arm 10. Thus the hanger is pivotally supported on the bracket 5 and is slidably adjusted on the supplemental arm l 10. The hanger canbe removed bodily from the supplemental arm by merely lifting it or-.by sliding it. The parts described are simple and can be readily assembled. A number of hangers can be supported in parallel relation and pivotally onthe bracket 5, and thefilefcan'beexpanded consequently to support any desired number of drawings or similar sheets.

The invention is designed particularly to permitY ready access to any particular sheet of a group suspended on the hanger, and I provide,` therefore, on the hanger two ormorev members adapted tolregister with openings in thesheets and to receive and-support a group of sheets 13 as indicated in the drawings. Themeans provided is soarranged as to permit the selection of any desired sheet, the separation of the group of sheets, and the :removal of the particular sheet 105 desired. The meansemployed'may be embodied in various forms, and a number of modifications thereof are illustrated in the drawings'.

Preferably the means engaging the openings in the sheets are tilted to avoid any tendency for 110 sheets to slip therefrom when the device is manipulated to remove one or more sheets. The tilting may be effected by bending the lower edge of the hanger slightly or by setting the sheet engaging means at an angle in the hanger. Thus the sheets tend to gravitate toward the hanger even when not securely fastened.

Referring to Figs. 2 to 4 inclusive, I secure tubular members 14 to the hanger 12 in ,spaced relation and projecting from one side thereof. The members 14 are tilted outwardly and upwardly as shown for the purpose heretofore mentioned. Each tubular member is provided with an internal thread 15 to receive the threaded end 16 on a co-operating member 17 which is adapted to be disposed within the tubular member 14. A head 18 on the member 17 `facilitates manipulation thereof. When the member 17 is introduced in the member 14 and turned, the threads lock the two members in assembled relation and the group of sheets 13 supported on the tubular members 14 yare thus securely held thereon.

When a selected sheet is to be removed, the

group of sheets in front thereof is moved backwardly and the members 17 are released and withdrawn, carrying this group of the sheets and leaving the selected sheet and the remaining sheets of the group supported on the members 14. The selected sheet can then be withdrawn from the members 14, after which the members 17 can be replaced, all of the sheets of the group except the one removed being thus returned to the file. To replace4 the sheet removed, the operation is repeated and the sheet is inserted in the file in its proper place.

In Figs. 5 and 6, the tubular members 19 are secured to the hanger 1'2 and are provided; at their ends with resilient ngers 20. The cooperating members 21 having heads 22 are provided also with-grooves 23 to receive the ends of the fingers 20. Thus when the members 21 are inserted in the tubular members 19, they are locked in position but can be Withdrawn readily by exerting a' slight pressure upon the heads 2.2. f

In Figs. 7 and 8, substantially the same' structure is employed except that the locking is accomplished by a bayonet joint. Thus the tubular Vmembers 24 are mounted on the hanger 12 and the co-operating members 25 With heads 26 are shaped to t closely within the tubular members 24, which may be provided with slots 27 toreceive pins 27 on the members 25. In the operation of this device, the members 25 areturned to release the pins 27 and arewithdrawn by exerting suitable pressure on the heads 26. Access to thematerial in the iile is obtained as in the preceding embodiments of the invention.

In Figs. 9 and 10, I have illustrated a device including a latch to hold the members in assembled relation. Thus the hanger 12 is provided with projecting tubular members 28, yand co-operating members 29 with heads 30 are provided with latches 31 pivoted at 32 with projecting ends 33. The latches 31 have downwardly projecting lugs 34 which are adapted tov engagey openings 35 in the tubular members 28. The members 29 may be released by lifting the projections 33, thus releasing the latches.` The operation of vremoving and inserting sheets jin'the le is accomplished as in the preceding embodiments of theinvention. y A

InFigs. 11 and12, the hangers`12 are'pro- "vided with projecting tubular vmembers'36 havingslots37 in 'their upper faces. Co-opera'ting members 38 and are adapted to be inserted in the tubular members and are provided with heads 39 and notches 40, the notches being adapted to engage lugs 41 on the tubular members. Thus, when the co-operating parts are in the position indicated in the drawings, they are locked in assembled relation, but by merely lifting the heads 39vthe members 38 can be freed and withdrawn to .facilitate access to the sheets in the ile.

In Figs. 13 and 15 inclusive, a similar device involving a slightly different principle of operation is illustrated. The hangers 12 are provided with projecting tubular members 42 having openings 43 therein. Within the tubular members plungers 44 are disposed, the plungers having corresponding openings 45. Keys 45 with heads 47'and notches 43 co-operating with lugs 49 on the plungers 44 permit rotation of the plungers.

With the plungers in the position indicated in Fig. 13, the keys 46 can be inserted, air being expelled-through the openings 43 and 45. If then the plungers 44 areY turned slightly in either direction, the openings 43 and 45 no longer register. They may, for example, take the position indicated in Fig. 14. Air cannot then enter, and consequently an attempt to remove the keys 46 results in the formation of-a partial vacuum which resists the movement of the keys. The latter are, therefore, locked in the closed position until they are rotated suiciently to cause the openings 43 and 45 to again register.

In Figs. 16 to 19 inclusive, 1 have illustrated another form of the invention adapted more particularly to co-operate with sheets having slots communicatingwith the openings therein, as illustrated more particularly in Fig. 23. Thus, a sheet such as a blueprint 50 may be provided With a binder 51 having openings 52 and communicating slots 53.

To suspend such sheets, I mount upon the hanger 12 a plurality of members 54 having'fupturned ends 55 and 56 and adapted to be rotated.

'Ifne positions of the members d4-may be limited by lugs 57 and 58 struck up from the body of the hangerl l2. The sheets are suspended on the members 54. When one is to be removed, the members 54 are turned in the direction of they arrow Aon Fig. 16, to the position indicated( in dottedy lines on Fig. 19,when it willbe seen that any sheet can be `withdrawn by simply forcing lthe slots V53 over the members v54. `When the members 54 are turned again to their normal position, all of the sheets are securely held in the In Figs. 20 to 22, inclusive, a modification lof the device is illustrated inwhich the hanger 12 is provided with rotatable V-shaped members 59 having projections 60 atv their outer ends. This device is'likewise adapted` tovv ccf-operate with sheets having openings and connecting slots as indicated in Fig.V 23'. I The rneymbers 59 normally are, maintained'. inthe position indicated vin Fig. 20. They may, howevenrbe'rotated to an angle of 180, as indicated in Fig. 21, and when they are in this position any desired sheet can be removed readily from the file. The relative positions of the members 59 are illustrated more clearly in Fig. 2 2.

All of the various modifications of the de-v vhangerV to receive and support aplurality of suspended sheets, the 'means being operable to permit the detachment of any selected sheet without removing adjacent sheets. In each of the forms of the invention, any selected sheet can be separated and removed without disturbing substantially the remaining sheets and without varying the order in which the latter are arranged. The sheet removed can be returned as readily to its proper position in the file. Thus all of the sheets are accessible. In any of the forms of the device as illustrated and described the means for engaging the opening in the sheets can be tilted as illustrated in Fig. 2, to prevent the sheets from slipping therefrom.

The structure and arrangement are extremely simple. There are no complicated mechanical devices.V Nevertheless the sheets in the rile are firmly held and will not separate from the file until the co-operating parts are manipulated in the manner described. The sheets are suspended and may be protected from dust and dirt. They are not likely to be torn or disgured, and they can be preserved, therefore, indefinitely in a satisfactory and usable condition.

Numerous details of construction and arrangement of the parts can be varied without departing from the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

I claim:

1. A filing device for drawings and the like comprising a pivoted support, a hanger slidably mounted on the support, and spaced means projecting from the hanger and adapted to receive and support from the projecting portions a plurality of suspended sheets having openings therein to register with the spaced means, the latter being operable to permit the detachment of any selected sheet without removing adjacent sheets from the projecting means.

2. A filing device for drawings and the like comprising a pivoted support, a hanger slidably mounted on the support, and spaced means projecting from the hanger and adapted to receive and support from the projecting portions a plurality of suspended sheets having openings therein to register with the spaced means, the latter including co-operating members, certain of the members being operable to permit the detachment of any selected sheet without removing adjacent sheets from the projecting means.

3. A filing device for drawings and the like comprising a pivoted support, a hanger slidably mounted on the support, and spaced means projecting from the hanger and adapted to receive and support from the projecting portions a plurality of suspended sheets having openings therein to register with the spaced means, the latter including co-operating relatively movable members, certain of the members being operable to permit the detachment of any selected sheet Without removing adjacent sheets from the projecting means. Y

4. A filing device for drawings and the like comprising a pivoted support, a hanger slidably mounted on the support, spaced means projecting from the hanger and adapted to receive and support from the projecting portions a plurality of suspended sheets having openings therein to register with the spaced means, the latter being operable to permit the detachment of any selected sheet without removing adjacent sheets from the projecting means, and means to normally lock the sheets on the spaced means.

5. A iiling device for drawings and the like comprising a pivoted support, a hanger slidably mounted on the support, spaced means projecting from the hanger and adapted to receive and support from the projecting portions a plurality of suspended sheets having openings therein to register with the spaced means, the latter including co-operating members, certain of the members being operable to permit the detachment of any selected sheet without removing adjacent sheets from the projecting means, and means Yto normally lock the members.

6. A filing device for drawings and the like comprising a hanger and spaced means projecting from the hanger and adapted to receive and support from the projecting portions a plurality of suspended sheets having openings therein to register with the spaced means and slots extending from said openings to one edge thereof, said spaced means being rotatable and in one position adapted to prevent removal of the sheets While in another position being adapted to have any 

